HEALTH KEEPS YOU ALIVE.
YOUR LEGACY MAKES YOU IMMORTAL.
When You're Sick, Call the Best Doctor.
When Your Family's Future Hangs in the Balance, Call Me.
SECURE YOUR FAMILY'S FUTURE: MY 7-STEP ESTATE PLANNING PROCESS SHIELDS YOUR ASSETS AND TURNS YOU INTO YOUR FAMILY'S HERO
I DON'T DRAFT PAPERS, I HELP YOU DESIGN YOUR LEGACY.
CALL ME NOW, SLEEP TONIGHT.
Eric did an excellent job creating our Living Trust. His work was very detailed and thorough, and at a very reasonable cost.
Very impressed with Eric, and glad he could help us out with our decision-making regarding Trusts at the time…
I had a complex estate plan I needed done. I spoke with several attorneys before finding Mr. Ridley and I’m so glad…
Law Office of Eric Ridley Estate Planning in Ventura, Santa Barbara & Los Angeles Counties
The moment your family needs your protection most will be the moment you can no longer give it to them.
Think about that.
While you're reading this, thousands of families are being torn apart in probate courts. Not because their loved ones didn't care—but because they procrastinated.
Your family deserves better than "I'll get to it next month."
Here's what happens when you die without a proper estate plan:
- The court—not you—decides who raises your children.
- Your assets freeze, leaving your family financially stranded.
- The government takes what it wants before your family gets what's left.
- Your grieving loved ones spend years battling bureaucracy instead of healing.
This isn't about documents. It's about protection. It's about love.
The clock is ticking. Every day without protection is a gamble with everything you've worked for.
Your children. Your home. Your life's work.
Don't let them become casualties of "I meant to take care of that."
The difference between security and chaos isn't complex:
- An initial free, friendly conversation with me.
- A customized protection plan built for your family.
- The absolute certainty that you've done everything possible to protect the people you love.
Your family is counting on you to make one call that changes everything.
Will you make it today, or will you roll the dice on their future?
You're Not Just a Client, You're Family
In our free consultation, I don't just explain legal documents – I help you build a fortress around everything you've worked for:
- Instead of a boring "discovery meeting, (ew)" we'll uncover what keeps you up at night about your family's future.
- My 7-Step Framework isn't some cookie-cutter template – it's the battle plan we create together to protect what matters most to you.
- I translate complex legal concepts into plain English that makes sense, because what good is a plan you don't understand?
- We'll address who raises your children and makes health decisions when you can't – possibly the most important decisions you'll ever make.
- Ask me anything without watching the clock – this isn't about billable hours, it's about your peace of mind.
- I'll identify exactly where your family is vulnerable right now and show you how to eliminate those risks immediately.
- You'll walk away with a clear roadmap of exactly what needs to happen next – no confusion, no overwhelm.
- The families I work with sleep better knowing they've protected their loved ones from chaos. Let me show you how to do the same.
When would you like to schedule your consultation?
Estate Planning | Probate | Wealth Management
Wills & Trusts
>- Keep Your Assets Away From The Government
- Protect Your Family
- Protect Your Heirs from creditors, predators, the government, & from themselves
- Pass your values on to your heirs, in addition to your assets.
Claim Your Free, Friendly Estate Planning Strategy Session.
- Interpret The Will
- File All Necessary Probate Paperwork
- Distribute Assets
- Pay Debts & Taxes
- Work With All the Heirs to Help with the Confusing Probate Process
Schedule Your Free, Friendly Probate Strategy Session.
Advisor
- Personalized
- Thorough
- Disciplined
- Low-Cost
- Strategic
- Diversified
Want Your Free, Friendly Financial Planning Consultation?
Helping You Become A (Bigger) Hero To Your Family.
What Is Estate Planning?
Right now, your family's future is sitting in a government file, waiting to be processed.
Your entire life's work—your home, your savings, your cherished possessions—all of it will be filtered through a system designed to take as much as possible before your loved ones see a penny.
This isn't fear-mongering. This is reality.
When you die without a proper estate plan, you're not just leaving behind assets. You're leaving behind a nightmare that will haunt your family for years:
- The state will decide who gets what—regardless of your wishes
- Up to 40% of everything you've built could vanish to taxes
- Your family will spend 12-24 months fighting through probate court
- Your children's inheritance could be squandered by age 23
The most painful truth? Your loved ones will face this burden during their darkest moment of grief—when they're least equipped to handle it.
The courts don't care that you "meant to take care of this." They don't recognize your intentions, only your documentation.
Every day without protection is a day you're gambling with everything that matters.
But there's good news: You still have time to act.
One decision today changes everything. Not next month. Not when things "settle down." Today.
The difference between your family's protection and their devastation isn't measured in dollars—it's measured in days. The days between now and when fate makes the decision for you.
Will your legacy be comfort and security? Or will it be courtrooms and conflict?
The choice is still yours—but only as long as you're here to make it.
My Three-Step System
or Video
Consultation
The most important part of getting started, is that I learn what's important to you; what your family is like, what your goals and objectives are, and what questions you have. During our Peace of Mind planning session, I also want to demystify things for you, to explain and clarify the estate planning process for you. I will take the jargon and legal-ese out of the process.
Legal Review
I’ll address your concerns and explain what will and won’t happen as your matter (whether estate plan, will & trust, or something else) proceeds.
I will do this patiently and respectfully.
No rush, no pressure.
Off of You
Each legal plan I design reflects your individual needs and goals.
Whether it's estate planning, probate, or something else, each case, each client, and each plan, is unique.
My goal to earn your trust and respect once you decide to entrust me with your matter.
After we talk, I will present your options. You can tell me "yes," or "no." And my promise to you is this: "No" is a perfectly acceptable answer.
I want you to have accurate, unbiased advice, and then to be able to make an informed decision.
How Can An Estate Planning Lawyer Help Me?
Every night, another family sits around a kitchen table planning a funeral instead of a future.
Their world has collapsed, not just from grief, but from what happens next:
- The government swoops in to claim its share
- The courts decide who raises their children
- Their home and assets freeze for 1-2 years
- Family members turn against each other fighting over what "they would have wanted"
This isn't rare. This is the default.
I've witnessed this tragedy replayed thousands of times. Healthy people who thought they had time. Wealthy people who thought their money would protect them. Parents who assumed love would keep their family united.
All wrong.
The courts don't recognize your intentions. They recognize documents. Period.
Right now, your family's security exists only in your mind – worthless when you're gone.
We can transform that invisible protection into ironclad security:
• Your children raised by those YOU choose
• Your assets protected from predatory taxes
• Your life's work transferred immediately, not after years in court
• Your family spared the second trauma of fighting over your estate
Every day without protection is Russian roulette with everything you love.
I've guided thousands of families across this threshold – from vulnerable to invincible. From hoping to knowing.
Stop gambling with your family's future. One decision today creates protection that outlives you.
The difference between your loved ones thanking you or cursing your name isn't measured in dollars. It's measured in days – the days between now and when fate makes the decision for you.
Your family is counting on you to make one call. Will you make it before it's too late?
“Eric is a true professional. He is extremely thorough, knowledgeable, and patient, always with a pleasant uplifting tone to his voice.”
Helping You Become A (Bigger) Hero To Your Family.
How Does Probate Work In California?
Picture this moment: You're gone.
Your family stands in your empty house, paralyzed by a toxic cocktail of grief and panic, as a stranger in a suit explains they can't access your bank accounts, can't sell your house, can't even drive your car.
For the next 12-24 months, everything you worked for sits frozen while your loved ones drain their savings just to survive.
This isn't a nightmare. This is probate in California.
I've watched powerful men break down crying when they realize what they've unknowingly sentenced their families to. The average California probate costs $23,000 and takes 16 months—during which your family gets nothing.
The courts don't care about your intentions. They don't care about your grieving spouse or your children's needs. They care about process.
The machine is designed to extract maximum value from your estate before your family sees a penny:
• Every asset cataloged and published for predators to see
• Court fees that can devour 8% of everything you own
• Lawyer fees that drain another 4-6%
• Creditors given first access to what's left
• Your private matters becoming public record forever
Your family doesn't just lose you. They lose their security, their privacy, and often, their relationship with each other.
I've seen siblings who haven't spoken in decades because of what happened during probate. I've seen widows forced to sell the family home because they couldn't access their husband's accounts.
This devastation has one cause: procrastination.
One meeting could have prevented it all.
One hour of your time today saves your family months of agony tomorrow.
The choice is brutally simple: Do you want to be remembered as the hero who protected them, or the reason they suffered?
Stop gambling with everything you love. Pick up the phone before it's too late.
5-Star Client Feedback
HONESTY & INTEGRITY
Mr. Eric Ridley did my estate planning, will, trust, DPOA, Advanced Healthcare Directive and end of life planning paperwork. This has(…)
Kind, Knowledgeable, & Professional
Eric helped me out immensely with a legal problem and was very kind, extremely professional and knew everything possible to(…)
Favorite Lawyer of All Time
Eric Ridley has to be my favorite Lawyer of all time. He helped me out tremendously being the executor of a family trust.(…)
Six Stars
I was in a bad way, as I was in the middle of a mortgage refi only to discover my house had a lien on it and didn’t know why. I had a lender that was…(…)
I will highly recommend Eric
Eric did an excellent job creating our Living Trust. His work was very detailed and thorough, and at a very reasonable cost. I(…)
Amazing Results & Personalized Service
Oh my gosh, you are amazing!! I sincerely believe it is due to your skills that it came out this good. Thank you(…)
I can’t say enough good things about Eric! He recently assisted me with a Family Trust matter and from the very start(…)
Eric’s a lifesaver! He made time to take several calls on short notice, helped me understand my issue, and gave me the(…)
Mr. Ridley is just fantastic. He is knowledgable, attentive, honest and was very patient with my many many questions about(…)
Why Should I Hire An Estate Planning Lawyer?
Your family's safety hangs by a thread called "good enough."
The $999 online will you bought isn't protection—it's an illusion of protection. A ticking time bomb disguised as a solution.
I've spent decades cleaning up the wreckage left by DIY estate planning:
- The father whose online will left his children penniless because it wasn't properly witnessed
- The mother whose template trust put her special needs child's benefits at risk
- The husband whose crappy LegalZoom documents forced his widow to sell their home to pay estate taxes that should have been avoided
These weren't careless people. They were good people who thought they were doing the right thing.
They were wrong.
What separates a good estate plan from a worthless template?
The invisible architecture of protection that comes from several hours of conversation focused exclusively on YOUR family's unique situation.
Online services can't:
• Analyze how your specific assets interact with California's complex property laws
• Structure protection that adapts when life changes
• Create bulletproof documents that stand up to challenges from creditors and estranged family members
The difference isn't just document quality—it's whether your plan actually works when your family needs it most.
When your executor stands before a judge, will your plan protect your family or unravel completely?
The most expensive estate plan is the one that fails.
Your loved ones deserve better than "good enough."
They deserve certainty.
I Will help guide You to Financial freedom
Law That Reclaims What Matters Most
Ever notice how legal problems hijack your attention? While worry consumes you, life's precious moments slip by unnoticed.
Your child's baseball game... missed. Anniversary dinner... distracted. That promotion at work... jeopardized.
Estate planning isn't really about documents. It's about reclaiming your mental bandwidth from worry and redirecting it to what truly matters: your family, loved ones, health, and career.
When your assets are protected, when your wishes are legally secured, when your family's future is safeguarded—your mind becomes free to fully engage with today instead of fearing tomorrow.
I practice estate planning, wills, trusts, and probate for one reason: to handle the legal complexities that steal your presence from life's most meaningful moments.
This isn't just legal work. It's liberation from the background anxiety that robs you of fully experiencing your own life.
Let me handle the legal complexity so you can return to what you do best: being fully present for those who need you most.
Here are the ways I make things easier for my clients:
legal protection isn't just about documents. It's about reclaiming the mental freedom that uncertainty steals from you every day. Right now, part of your brain is constantly monitoring the gap between what you have and what your family needs. This background anxiety drains your energy, limits your joy, and steals your presence with the people you love most. I don't just create legal protection. I create psychological freedom. Imagine falling asleep tonight knowing that no matter what happens tomorrow: Your children will be raised by those YOU choose Your assets will transfer immediately, not after years in court Your medical wishes will be honored without question Your legacy is permanently secured This isn't just peace of mind. It's getting your life back. The chains of worry you've been carrying aren't mandatory. Transfer them to someone who's built their life around carrying them for others. One conversation changes everything - not just your family's future, but how you experience every moment between now and then.
When legal matters arise, you need an attorney who works around your life – not the other way around.
Your free consultation happens when it works for you. Evening call after the kids are in bed? Weekend Zoom while relaxing at home? I adjust to your schedule, not mine.
I respect your time with prompt, scheduled meetings that start on time. No waiting rooms, no delays. Between meetings, you're never left wondering. Every call, text, and email receives a response within 48 hours. This isn't about my convenience – it's about making legal protection fit seamlessly into your busy life. Because protecting what matters most shouldn't require rearranging what matters now.
Transparency is just a word until your family is drowning in grief and paperwork. There's a reason 87% of estate plans fail when tested. It's not because the attorneys were dishonest—it's because they were incomplete. True transparency isn't just explaining what's in your documents. It's revealing what's missing. When we work together, you'll understand not just what your plan does, but what it doesn't do. Not just how it works, but how it might fail. Not just what's protected, but what remains vulnerable. This level of brutal honesty isn't comfortable. But comfort doesn't protect your family when you're gone. Your family deserves certainty, not assumptions. The safety of everything you've built for the people you love hangs on one question: Will you demand complete transparency, or will you settle for comforting half-truths?
**No Office Visit Required** Your legal protection shouldn't depend on your ability to travel. From my Port Hueneme office, I serve clients throughout California—Santa Barbara to San Diego—entirely through phone, Zoom, text, and email. This means: - No driving through traffic - No taking time off work - No arranging childcare - No mobility challenges for elderly clients Estate planning and wealth management shouldn't be limited by geography. My remote-friendly approach ensures you receive the same personalized legal guidance without the logistical hurdles. Protect what matters most without leaving your home.
When we work together, I translate complex legal concepts into plain English that actually makes sense to you. No jargon. No legalese. Just straight talk about protecting what matters most. I've seen the look of relief on clients' faces when they finally understand what their documents actually do. That moment when estate planning transforms from an intimidating obligation into a powerful tool you confidently control. Your questions deserve clear answers—not vague explanations that leave you more confused than before. Whether it's about trusts, probate avoidance, or tax implications, I'm available to address your concerns directly, without the confusing terminology that other attorneys hide behind. This isn't about checking legal boxes. It's about creating a plan you genuinely understand and can explain to your loved ones with confidence. The peace of mind you want isn't just in having documents—it's in knowing exactly how they protect you and your family.
**Your Secrets Stay Safe** In a world where privacy feels increasingly rare, your personal information deserves absolute protection. When you share your financial details, family dynamics, and future plans with me, that information never leaves our confidential relationship. Period. Unlike financial institutions with data breaches or tech companies that monetize your information, attorney-client privilege creates an ironclad shield around everything you disclose. This isn't just about legal protection – it's about the freedom to be completely honest without fear of judgment or exposure. Only with full transparency can we build the comprehensive estate plan your family deserves. The wealthiest families have understood this for generations: true financial security begins with confidentiality. Now you can access that same level of protection. Your most sensitive information remains exactly where it belongs – between us alone.
Helping You Become A (Bigger) Hero To Your Family.
Latest News & Insights
FAQs
Is Eric Ridley The Right Estate Planning Lawyer For You?
You deserve an estate planning attorney who truly gets it. My clients don't just walk away with documents – they gain peace of mind knowing their legacy is protected exactly how they want it.
When life's biggest questions arise – Who will care for your children? How will your business continue? Will your spouse be financially secure? – you need someone who's been there before.
What sets my practice apart isn't just technical expertise in California estate law. It's my ability to translate your deepest concerns into actionable legal solutions that work for generations, not just today.
Unlike many attorneys who treat estate planning as a transaction, I build relationships. My clients stay with me for years because I anticipate their needs before they even recognize them.
The most common feedback I hear? "I didn't realize how much was at risk until we sat down together."
Your family deserves that same clarity and confidence. Let's have a conversation about what matters most to you.
